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16—47372-1

RECOLLECTIONS

OF A

YOUNG SOLDIER

DURING THE

CRIMEAN WAR

BY

HARRY POWELL,

LATE I3TH LIGHT DRAGOONS.

OXFORD :

PRINTED BY UFSTONE AND DOE, 15%, QUEEN STREE'J

[876.

RECOLLECTIONS

OF A

YOUNG SOLDIER

DURING THE

CRIMEAN WAR.

BY

HARRY POWELL,

LATE I3TH LIGHT DRAGOONS.

S**5#T-'J« >

OXFORD :

PRINTED BY UPSTONE AND DOE, 15^, QUEEN STREET.

1876.

3 50Fl

3>^

Ob

TO

H.R.H. PRINCE LEOPOLD

AND THE

OFFICERS AND SURVIVORS

SIX HUNDRED

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT,

HARRY POWELL.

s

RECOLLECTIONS OF A YOUNG SOLDIER

DURING THE

CRIMEAN WAR.

Your Royal Highness,

You have most kindly and graciously promised
to patronize my little pamphlet, and before I begin it
I must beg to return your Royal Highness my sincere
and grateful thanks for your kindness. I have had
the great honour of speaking to you at the Rector of
Exeter's. To my astonishment the Rector said to you,
"one of the six hundred;" and you spoke to me about
the banquet, and I told you about my old horse.

I have been represented in the "Penny Illustrated" as
being left dead on the battle field in the Valley of Death.

Before saying one word of myself, I must say a few
of my father. He served six years in the old 22nd
Light Dragoons, twenty-one in the 13th Light Dra-
goons, and three years in the 15th Hussars, all that
time (30 years) in India. At that time the soldier
counted three years for two. He was discharged as. a
private at 1/1 1| a day pension. He was made a Mason in
1824. I was born at Bangalore, in the East Indies, and
I marched with the 13th to Madras in 1840, where my
father volunteered into the 15th. The 13th lost a hun-
dred men on that march besides women and children. I
went back with the 15th to Bangalore, my father was
camp color man ; after three years I returned to Madras
and embarked on board the John Lyon. I was nearly

a 2

four months on board ship. On arriving in England, I
went to see my brother and sister at Hounslow, and
tried to get enlisted but failed, cried all the way back to
London, tried again and succeeded in getting band pay,
enlisting at Cahir. At an early age marched to Dublin,
and have had many a good gallop over Phcenix Park ;
from there to Longford, marched to Belturbert, where
an accident of a serious nature happened to an officer,
by name P. Smith, very nearly losing his right hand, of
whom I shall have to speak further on. I took the lead-
ing characters of a female in " She Stoops to Conquer,"
"The Irishman in London," " The Happy Man," "The
Wags of Windsor," and a few other pieces. I will pass
over my travels through England, Ireland and Scotland.
I was present at the funeral of that great conqueror, the
late Duke of Wellington. From Hounslow to Chobham,
under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
From there to Birmingham, where we had the route for
Dover, we were to have gone through France, a counter
order came on the march for us to go to Hounslow and
Hampton Court, finally we marched to Portsmouth, the
men singing and as happy as kings. My troop embarked
on the 8th of May, 1854, on board the good little ship the
"Mary Ann," No. 42, the B troop on the "Negociator," the
E on board the " Monarchy." I forget the name of the
ship or ships that took the rest of the troops. Capt. Old-
ham and Lieut. Montgomery on the first named vessel,
Capt. Soames Jenyns and Lieut. Jervis on the second,
Capt. Arthur Tremayne, Lieut. Percy Smith, Assistant
Surgeon Armstrong, on the third, Colonel Doherty,
Major Gore, Capt. Goad, Lieut. Goad, Cornet McLean,
Chamberlin and staff officers on the other vessel

or vessels. Captain Holden came on board our ship
to bid us good bye ; a great many of his troop, the F,
were transferred to the A, myself among the number.
We sailed in company with The Negociator for a long
time, songs passing alternately between the two ships ;
we had a first-class singer on our ship by name T.
Jenkins; towards evening we parted company and bid
good bye ; the Captain of our ship, a gallant and brave
old man-of-war's man, signaling and saying Nelson's
celebrated words " England expects that every man this
day will do his duty." Poor fellow, he did not live to
give that signal in England again ; he died soon after
arriving at Varna, to the great sorrow of the soldiers as
well as the sailors, for he was beloved by both.

Before parting we sounded walk, trot, gallop and
charge. The next order was all hands splice the main
brace. The first Sunday at sea we were going along
with a good breeze, and all sails set, when Captain Old-
ham, towards night, thought it was too fast for the
horses. The captain of the ship altered sail, the ship
gave a lurch on the starboard side, the ballast placed in
the middle of the ship broke the boards nailed to the up-
rights, the same being nailed to the outside instead of
the in, the ballast rolled under the horses, threw them
on their beam ends, the women commenced to cry, the
men vigourously went to work ; the good little ship
righted, and everything passed off all right. In
entering the Dardanelles the main and foretop masts
were broken as one would break a lucifer match; on
arriving at Gallapoli we anchored nearly opposite the
Montobello, a large man-of-war's-man ; their carpenters
came on board our ship and worked hard till the masts

were thoroughly repaired ; by the way, one of our men,
by name Bonus, nick-named Bosh, in throwing the
manure overboard, being half-seas over, prepared him-
self to have a cooler ; he thought he could keep up with
the ship, throws himself over board at the same time as
the contents of the basket ; a life buoy was thrown out to
him which he managed to catch ; he was left behind in
a very short time, the ship was hauled to as soon as
possible, a boat lowered and he was picked up. When
brought on board he was as sober as a judge. We were
towed through the Bosphorus by the London. We
landed at Varna, after being 42 days at sea. I swam
half the horses of the troop, after landing, which gave
them a good washing and did them good.

A force, consisting of two troops of the 8th Hussars,
two troops of the 13th Light Dragoons, viz., B troop,
Captain Soams Jenyns and Lieutenant Jervis, E troop,
Captain Arthur Tremayne and Lieutenant Percy Smith,
Assistant-surgeon Armstrong ; the other troops of the
13th had not landed, the former went without tents. Lord
Cardigan was the General in command. They marched
from Devna to Bazargik, a large village, deserted, having
been plundered both by Bashi Bazouks and Cossacks ;
another halt was made at Karasi. I must here state
that the object of the expedition being to discover
whether the Russian army besieging Silistria had any
detached parties about the country. The weather was
very hot, the water bad, the country entirely deserted,
very short of forage, and the horses suffered very
much. From Karasi Captain A. Tremayne was sent
out with fifty Turks to patrol over the whole source of
the Danube into the Dobritcha, to feel for Cossacks

supposed to have crossed the river. After the siege
of Silistra was raised, they were out from i a.m.
to 10 p.m. and saw nothing of the enemy. Lord
Cardigan had 200 Turks under his command at Rassova.
The river is very wide here. Saw Cossacks on the other
side ; Lord Cardigan was rather cross at the unsoldier-
like behaviour of the officers and men ; the facts of the
case is this, the officers and men were very hungry, they
tried to catch some pigs but did not succeed in doing so.
Any one knows what a tractible animal that is, so the
officers took out their revolvers, and as the pigs would not
be caught they shot them, like wise men of the east. Not-
withstanding the Brigadier's censure, he was glad to sup
off little piggy that night. From there they marched to
Silistria ; arrived a few days after the Russians had
raised the siege ; found the town in a most deplorable
state. The work called " Arab Tabia " was much
damaged by the Russian fire ; the town a perfect wreck.
They remained two or three days at Silistria. The main
body of the Russians were in retreat. Now I am going to
begin with another officer of the 13th, by name Lieut.
Percy Smith, the same officer I introduced to your notice
in Belturbert, in Ireland, and you must strongly bear in
mind this officer had a crippled hand — his right hand. I
shall have to speak of him further on. Lord Cardigan
after receiving the different reports brought to him,
and not hearing or seeing anything of the enemy, he
made up his mind to go on himself the following
morning, taking with him twenty men and a subaltern,
that subaltern was Lieutenant Percy Smith who
volunteered to go with the party. They started at
day-break, marched some distance beyond Trajan's

8

Wall ; seeing no enemy, turned back to join the
main body, halted at a deserted village to feed and
water the horses. The order came to mount. Lieut. P.
Smith found the horses so knocked up that he thought
it prudent and right to report the same to Lord Cardigan.
His Lordship looked the horses over, and told him he
had better stay where he was with twelve of the worst of
them, he would take the remainder with him, adding
that he should come on the next morning, and appear
between nine and ten. When Lord Cardigan left, Lieut.
P. Smith took possession of the deserted Khan, that is a
coffee house, or a sort of rough hotel, in the middle of
the village ; made the horses fast round the yard, was
about to close the gate and bar up the same when Lord
Burghersh (Lord Raglan's senior Aide-de-Camp), who
had been with Lord Cardigan in the reconnaissance, rode
in, he was asked what was the matter, he answered,
"My horse is so done up," Lord Cardigan had given
him leave to remain with the other done up horses that
night and rejoin his lordship next morning. The gates
were then closed. The officer in command, viz., Lieut. P.
Smith, 13th Light Dragoons, went round the building to
see how it could be best defended in case of attack.
After telling the men off to their different posts, in the
event of an alarm, the men set to work to light a fire ;
before it was well alight, the sentry reported hearing a
drum in the distance. By this time it was pitch dark,
the horses were so done up that it would be useless to
try to escape. The Lieutenant posted the men at the
places already chosen, and ordered them to put the fire
out, and not even to whisper for the chance of remaining
undiscovered. In a short time, however, the village was

filled with mounted men of some kind or other ; a strong
party rode up to the Khan and tried to get in ; they were
very angry at the gate being closed ; some went away,
while others formed across the gate. A fire was lighted
in an open space not far off, men sitting round it. Lord
Burgheish looked at them through his glasses and said,
" It's all right, they are Turks." Another attempt was
afterwards made to force the gate of the Khan. Two
men had got up into the minaret of a small Mosque ;
they could see from the latter into the yard, and would
have been able to shoot all the horses. Lord Burg-
hersh said it was madness to think of holding the
Khan against so strong a force, he would go out and
explain to the Turkish officer in command who they
were. Lieutenant P. Smith insisted on going with him.
They made their way to the fire. Neither officer at
that time knew much of the Turkish language, and
were only just able to explain they were English officers.
Lord Burghersh wearing a cocked hat was recognised as
a British officer, the other officer was taken to be a
Russian. They cried out, " Russ ! Russ! " and separated
him from Lord Burghersh, forcing him to sit some dis-
tance off; a giant of a negro was placed over Lieutenant
P. Smith with a drawn sword muttering, pointing to
his schako "Russ." Lord Burghersh made another
attempt to explain ; he forgot the Turkish word for
Lieutenant, and made use of the word Captain, literally
in Turkish, as I believe in Scripture, " the head
of a hundred." " Not a hundred," several called out,
" only twelve." This made matters worse ; the giant
negro became very excited. Lord Burghersh was with
the Turkish commanding officer. They brought him

10

bread and salt and a cup of coffee; he partook of
a little, jumped up to take the remainder to his brother
officer, but was prevented. Ominous sounds of drawing
swords all round. Lord Burghersh refused to return
to his seat, forced his way to his comrade and com-
panion, and made another attempt to explain, this
time more fortunate and successful ; bread and salt were
then offered to both. Lieut. P. Smith's friend, the
negro, ordered to return swords ; no doubt, that officer
would not be ashamed to acknowledge, to his great
relief.

The following day, Lord Cardigan picked that detach-
ment up, and marched to Rassova on the Danube, that
was about six miles from the village in which the above
occured. The Turks who came into the village were a
regiment of Bashi Bazouks, about six hundred strong.
Apparently only three of their officers belonged to the
regulars, so it could not be expected their discipline was
first-class, or anything bordering on it. The expedition
remained two or three days at Silistria. The enemy on
the opposite bank, that was the rear guard, the main body
being in retreat, they marched to Schmula, where Omar
Pacha was in command of a large Turkish force ; the
Pacha lent tents which were very acceptable, after so many
nights " al fresco ;" they marched back to Yani Bazar and
Devna, reaching the latter place after travelling nearly
all night through a tremendous thunder storm. The
patrol was done by horses who had only been a few days
out of the transport. In starting, the horses were
burdened like pack horses, having to carry three days'
forage, and three days' provision ; hence the sore backs.
The men's health was good, except that many of them

suffered from sore eyes from the hot weather and dust ;
discipline all that could be wished. Lord Cardigan
arrived at Devna in time to order dismiss to be sounded,
on that wet and gloomy morning.

The infantry, although on higher ground than us, lost
a great many men. The only man I remember being
buried of the Light Brigade at Devna, was a sergeant of
the 17th Lancers, who was drowned, There was a
beautiful bathing place at Devna, I was told, made by
the Russians in 1829. At Devna Lord Lucan gave an
order the trumpeters were not to have grey horses, re-
marking at the time, "A trumpeter was of as much con-
sequence as an officer." I am glad to know his Lordship
is still alive, and perhaps will remember the order he
gave, at the same time I must tell his Lordship he took
one of the best horses in the regiment from me. I
selected a mare nick-named Butcher, A 36, a good
strong little animal, a runaway. I shall have to refer
to her further on. From Devna we marched to
Yani Bazar, where we encamped some time. There
we had nothing but drill, sickness and death. I
remember one week in particular, I sounded five of my
own comrades to the grave and was borrowed by the
17th to perform the same over one of their departed
comrades, very distressing and depressing to the poor
fellows in hospital. The doctor of the nth Hussars, by
name Cross, like a sensible man, would not allow
the mournful dirge to be sounded. Under Lord
Cardigan we practised all manoeuvres and other duties
he thought we might be called upon to do. One particu-
lar and favourite movement of his Lordship's was the
front line advancing and retiring, the second coming up,

12

the same as our heavier comrades in arms did at
Balaklava.

At last came the order for the Crimea ; to the great joy
of officers and men. We had the order one evening, and
marched next morning. I think I ought to say here that
our camp was honoured by the presence of two
English ladies, officers' wives, who shared the hardships,
heat, &c, the same as the men, one I think of the 8th,
the other the nth. I hope these ladies, if alive, which I
trust they are, will forgive me for mentioning them. We
marched back to Varna, the 13th embarked on board the
Jason. Captain A. Tremayne's troop was the first
cavalry soldiers landed at Eupatoria on the 14th of
September, 1854; the next day the rest of the regiment
disembarked, the horses were put into flat bottomed boats,
the sailors could not get them quite up to shore, the men
fully accoutred with a full amount of Ammunition, water
bottles filled, and three days' cooked provisions. The
boats being heavily laden, as I said before were not able
to get to shore ; the horses were pushed or thrown into
the water over the sides of the boats ; a man of ours, by
name Kneller (before enlisting he was a conductor to a
Buss in London), trying to throw his horse over into the
sea, went over with the animal ; poor fellow, I thought he
was gone for ever ; a sailor on board a man of war jumped
in after him and brought him up, he was taken on board
and attended to and appeared all right the next morning.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge on shore
seeing what had happened insisted on the horses being
brought to land. I hope if His Royal Highness conde-
scends to read this he will remember the circumstances of
the 15th. The 16th, two guns of the I troop R.H.A., a

13

company of the Infantry and all the Cavalry who had
landed, the whole under Lord Cardigan, went out recon-
noitring to see if we could find the enemy, Lord Cardigan
formed the men up on the march and told them what to
do in case we met them. We went a long way, the In-
fantry had to wade and make the best of their way through
the salt lakes which abounded there. His Lordship took
us on till evening; when "Halt" sounded he gave the
order for the men to have their evening meal. Many of
them to my knowledge had already eaten all they landed
with. After a little rest for the horses we returned to old
Fort Eupatoria where we bivouacked that night. I was
with his Lordship that day; Captain Oldham had a
great difficulty in rousing up the Sergeant who was left
behind, I forget his name, but he came from the 3rd
Light Dragoons to us in Birmingham, nothing like some
brave and weather beaten soldiers who came from that
distinguished regiment. On the 18th towards evening
the enemy made their appearance, Lord Cardigan's
Brigade Major came galloping along the lines shouting
"Turn out! Turn out!" which we did in a short time;
Adjutant Irwin of the 13th gave us credit for the short
time we turned out in, and said " well done men." The
enemy set fire to several hay and corn stacks, saw we
were ready for them, and thought it prudent to remain
at a distance. The Reveille sounded very early the
next morning; the Light Brigade under their gallant
leader, and the I troop of Artillery, formed the advance
of the whole of the army. In the afternoon, after a long
and hard ride, we came up with the Russians, rather, I
ought to say, they faced us at Bulganak. Officers and
men so thirsty, the former offering brandy for water,

H

which was very scarce both for man and horse. We
came to a halt. The right and left troops of my regiment
went out skirmishing; I am told also a troop of the nth,
Adjutant Irwin of the 13th commanded the line of skir-
mishers of his regiment, I was with him whilst out skir-
mishing. Up gallops the brave and daring Capt. Nolan,
and says to Adjutant Irwin in my hearing " the Russians
are dam'd bad shots " ; the bullets were then flying over
us, we were quite close to each other ; Capt. Nolan, as
cool as a cucumber, dismounted, looks round his horse,
remounts and rejoins Lord Raglan. My brother trumpe-
ter, by name Dick Davis, rode over to me and asked me if
I had had a shot, I said " no," I thought they were not
near enough. He told me that he had had several. I
then thought it was time for me to get my pistol ready ;
Adjutant Irwin seeing this asked me what I was doing
with that and ordered me to put it away, remarking I
shall want you to sound; soon after I sounded " skirm-
ishers in." When we formed up with the reserve
we had to sit and be fired into by the Russian Artillery ;
our I troop opened fire, and the very first shot was
effective, the I troop was on the right of the line com-
manded by Captain Maude, and that officer can corro-
borate what I am going to state ; a shell came and burst
into a grey horse immediately in front of me, the
horse was of course killed, the rider not the least
hurt ; his name was James Shaw, the man on the left
wounded in the ankle, Captain Maude remarking at the
time it was most extraordinary; that horse in England
belonged to the Trumpet Major. Sergeant Priestley of
the 13th lost his foot, Robert Wynn had his horse shot
in returning, the same shot nearly hitting Lieutenant P.

J5

Smith who had a narrow escape. Lord Cardigan was in
a very bad humour that night; just before being dis-
mounted he told Colonel Douglas who commanded the
nth he would put him under arrest for answering him ;
the fact was his Lordship wanted to charge the enemy
but was not allowed to do so.

The next day, the 20th, the great and glorious victory
of the battle of the Alma. A grand and military sight as
that was, as the troops advanced, I never saw, and
never shall again; a bright sunny morning, bayonets
fixed, swords drawn, the sun shining down on both, and
victory shone in the men's faces. The cavalry were after-
wards dismounted, part of the time waiting for orders ;
at last the order came to mount and gallop up to the
front. In going through the Alma our poor horses
wanted to stop to drink but were not allowed to do. so, but
were spurred through and urged to the heights of Alma,
our own men and the enemy laying dead and dying as we
passed them on the field. Arrived on the heights, a
great shout proclaimed the battle won, and ours ! The
Russian cavalry with some guns formed up in the dis-
tance, facing us, giving us a few parting shots without
doing us any damage. Adjutant Irwin would not allow
us to shout till after we had pursued the enemy, then he
said "now men, you can shout!" The next morning,
before breakfast I went over the battlefield, which is
beyond my powers of description, and I believe every
one else ; it must be seen, it cannot thoroughly be des-
cribed. That morning, the muster roll was called,
Adjutant Irwin was the officer who commenced calling
it ; he was suddenly taken ill and had to hand it over to
another officer, this would have been an addition to Miss

i6

Thompson's roll call, a brave officer taken suddenly . ill !
that officer died, I believe, from sheer exhaustion, and
the jolting of the horrid vehicles that were had for the sick;
he died before he could be got on board ship. Cornet
McLean was on board the same vessel very ill, and saw
the last of an officer who had taught him his drill, and
one whom he highly honoured and respected. I will tell
this in particular to the survivors of the 17th that
officer came from their regiment to the 13th in Cahir,
in Ireland. I have also been asked what became of
Lieutenant Colonel Lawrenson. After the Alma he could
scarcely sit on his horse although England never pro-
duced a more perfect figure on a horse than he was, and
also a first-class rider, which all that knew him will
admit. His horse was led down by a dismounted man
to board ship. I am glad to say he recovered. I called
to see him in London, he was out of town. I have not
seen him for more than 20 years. After burying the
dead and having a little rest we marched towards
Sebastopol, the Greys landing at a place, one or two
days march from the Alma ; horses and men looking as
clean as if they were going to a review in Hyde Park,
they were greatly cheered ; we poor dirty and ragged lot
coming up showed a marked contrast in our appearance,
however we had seen a little service. On the 24th or 25th,
I will not be sure which, but that is immaterial, the
march of the army was led by the Artillery of the first
division, Captain Maude, I troop, R.H.A., had the
honour of being in advance. Their route lay through a
forest, and after passing on some miles, finding them-
selves unsupported by cavalry, they hesitated, and the
same was soon extended to the troops which came next

i7

in the route, the road being narrow. At this juncture
Lord Raglan and Quarter- Master General Airey overtook
them , Lord Raglan demanding with some severity why they
had not proceeded according to orders he had personally
given a short time previously, as they passed him on
the road before entering that portion of the wood, his
Lordship rode smartly on and desired the troop to follow.
After they had advanced about three miles, the Com-
mander-in-Chief galloped back with great speed and
excitement in quest of the cavalry, some of whom
coming up, viz. the 8th Hussars, were ordered to the
front ; soon after some of the Greys came up and re-
mained by the guns of the I Troop, R*.H.A., in a bend of
the road leading to an open space that skirted the wood,
and through that space a mass of about 15,000 Russians
were marching. Lord Raglan ordered the troop of
Horse Artillery to advance at a gallop, which movement
was executed in a splendid and most brilliant manner,
and came into action on the open space ; opened fire on
the Russians with round shot and tincase, causing the
retreat of the enemy, which became a complete rout,
leaving their arms and baggage on the road. The troop
limbered up to the front and pursued, supported by the
8th Hussars, and the Greys coming up with the
Russians at a bend of the road leading into another
wood, they made a stand, formed and gave the troop of
artillery a family or parting shot at a distance of 200
yards ; not a man or horse was hit, as they fired high,
even the twigs on the top of the hedge on either side of
the road, were cut level by the Russian fire. The two
leading guns again came into action front and plied them
with tincase, during which time the Russians took shelter

B

i8

in the wood. The Greys dismounting right and left of
threes, taking their carbines followed the enemy into the
wood and did good execution. The guns were again
limbered up to the front and advanced to the extreme
end of the road leading into the valley on the road to
Bagstche Seria, after remaining there some time, limber-
ed up and retired on Mackenzie's Farm, the cavalry
supporting. The cavalry stragglers of the enemy gal-
loped across the plain as fast as their horses could put
legs to the ground. After the excitement was over, and
matters talked over, it was given in by all that it was a
lucky thing Captain Maude halted the troop in the wood,
notwithstanding the answer of Lord Raglan, who it was
said agreed to it himself as to the family shot that was
sent into the troop afterwards ; the gunners were in the
act of dismounting, the balls passed over their heads, the
Captain could not have been more than one hundred
yards from them when they fired, and had a most provi-
dential escape as he remained mounted. I am happy to
relate that that officer is still alive, also Mr. Norton, who
will be able to confirm what I have written about the
gallant I troop of Artillery. After looking round Mac-
kenzie's farm, the men trying to catch some pigs, and
looking out for anything in the way of something to
eat and drink, we marched down to the banks of the
Tchernaya ; on the road officers clothing strewn about,
Arab Bogies upset. We then saw the complete run
away affair it must have been. Our poor comrades
of the Infantry, must have been very tired that night as
they had a very long and hard march of it. We were
tired enough riding, how must it have been for those
walking ? Lord Cardigan sat by the fires of the A troop

19

13th Light Dragoons, before his own people came up ;
from him we heard that Prince Menschikoff's carriage had
had a narrow escape. Next morning, early, the Light
Brigade commanded of course by their gallant leader,
were ordered in pursuit of a Russian convoy escaping into
Sebastopol. Lord Cardigan called out for a trumpeter ;
he never had one specially told off to him, but had the
first he could get ; I was the first out, "trot" sounded, the
troops went at a quick pace, Lord Cardigan leading the
way, some of the horses ready to fall. His Lordship,
always well mounted, was a longdistance in front of the
troops. An officer came galloping up to him and re-
minded him of the danger of his own position; he merely
turned his head, took no notice, and kept the troops at it
till he saw it was useless going any further ; ordered
"halt" to be sounded, sent his Brigade Major a little
further on to see if he could see anything. In coming
back the ships were safely anchored in Balaklava har-
bour, which had been taken by our gallant Tars. All this
time we were without tents, and only had what we
landed with. The 13th had an oil skin given to them by
their Senior Colonel, which was very useful, as it kept
them from the damp ground. While at Balaklava we had
several turns out and reconnaissances ; sometimes, just as
we were going to dinner "turn out! turn out!" pots and
pans, dinner &c, all left; when we got back, perhaps
have to move to fresh ground, consequently see nothing
more of the dinner ; on one occasion, the A Troop went
out to reconnoitre, Capt. Oldham and Lieut. Montgomery
in charge ; we went a long distance on the Woronzoff
Road : Captain Oldham ordered us into a secluded little

place, where we had to jump our horses over a ditch; half

b 2

20

the men were ordered to unbridle and feed their horses,
the men partaking of food at the same time, the other half
doing so after them. I unfortunately that morning left
mine and my brother's ration behind, consequently we
had nothing to eat, and even when we got back the mess
tin was pork minus ; all the pity I had was ' served you
right, as you ought to have taken it with you.'

It was a wonder we were not all taken prisoners when
feeding our horses that day, we were in a most helpless
state of defence, and no possibility of getting away. We
went the same road another day but we were not to be
caught a second time; we saw the enemy on the look out
for us. Another day the same troop under the same
officers, in the valley which was afterwards called the 'val-
ley of death,' Serjeant H. Alderson was sent out and made
to go rather further than he would have chosen to, and the
Cossacks being hid from view, pounced down upon him
and took him prisoner. I think if he could have wheeled
sharply round and galloped back to the troop he might
have saved himself, but he was a long way off, too far
for a single soldier. He never saw any more of the
Crimean War so perhaps it was lucky for him. Lord
Cardigan heard the matter talked over by the men ; he
wanted to get at the bottom of it, but could not. The
country round and in Balaklava was lovely when we first
arrived ; grapes in abundance : we used to eat a tre-
mendous quantity as long as we could get them, the
officers thought they would make us ill, thank God, I
never suffered one day's illness there, nor all the time
I was in the Crimea, Turkey, and at Scutari.

I will now hasten on to the ever memorable 25th of
October, 1854. Both brigades turned out very early that

21

morning. The I troop, always in front, were ordered up
under the brow of the hill, near the Turkish redoubt.
The guns were covered by the 13th Light Dragoons, we
had not been there long, before Captain Maude was
seriously wounded. Lieut. P. Smith was then acting
Adjutant, he at that time was near the right, of the right
troop ; he said, " There goes poor Maude," thinking he
was killed, as many more of us did. During the time
the firing was going on between the artillerly, we had to
sit quietly on our horses; Lieut. P. Smith telling the men
to sit steady and not bob their heads about. That officer
may forget what he said, but I do not. The Turks sud-
denly gave up the redoubt, we retired at a walk, the
enemy peppering into us. Lieut. Goad was wounded
about that time and I believe lost his horse; Col. Doherty
was out then, but I did not see him afterwards. In re-
turning I could see many of the Heavies had been
seriously wounded, the shots that went over us must have
gone into them. The Heavies afterwards occupied the
ground our tents were pitched on ; in the morning, we
retired to the rear of them. We sent skirmishers
out, however they were called in, we quietly looking
on and waiting the result of the attack on Bala-
klava. A large Russian force of Cavalry rushed down on
the thin red line of the Infantry ; not one of them flinched,
nor a shot from them, till the enemy were close to them,
and sent them wheeling to the right. They then charged
the Heavy Brigade, the Heavies met them and executed
the same movements we had practised in Turkey. The
Turks thought it was all over, and called out to us to go
and help them, they little understood what was going on,
and British courage. The next line advances ; a regular

22

sword to sword encounter. The Russian Cavalry had
had enough of it, they wheeled round and made their way
back as fast as they could, being accommodated with as
much fire as could be brought to bear upon them, and
there is no doubt they had it hot. Lord Cardigan said
the Heavies had the advantage of us, little dreaming of
what was to follow. After some little time we were
moved down into the valley waiting for orders and
the next move. Down came the daring and brave
Captain Nolan with an order from Lord Raglan ;
Lord Lucan then was on the right of the line, con-
sequently the A troop would be near him. I be-
longed to that troop and distinctly heard the order
given ; it ran thus, — The Light Brigade will charge and
take those guns, pointing at the same time, so there
could be no mistake ; and supported by French Cavalry
on the left, the English Infantry on the right. To my
mind Lord Lucan seemed to hesitate. Capt. Nolan said,
" There are the guns, and it's your duty to take them."
Lord Cardigan was called and consulted with ; the con-
versation of course I did not hear. His Lordship placed
himself in the centre of the line, that would be between or
rather in advance of the 17th and 13th, and gave the order
to advance. I never heard a sound of any sort, and many
who were nearer to his Lordship, say the same as myself.
Captain Nolan, poor brave officer, was the first shot ;
when I first saw him he had his hands thrown up, and
seemed to me to be wounded in the chest ; one of our
farriers remained with him ; he rode in a forage cap, and
I believe a trooper of the 13th, who had some men and
horses on Lord Raglan's staff. The right troop of the
13th suffered more than the others from the rifle balls

23

fired from our right. Going down, Captain Oldham,
the senior officer of the 13th, at that time rode a very
fine grey horse ; both were killed, being blown to
pieces. Lieutenant Montgomery of the same troop was
killed also ; Captain Goad was killed, whose brother
was wounded in the morning. Lieutenant P. Smith
was the only officer who came out without having lost
his horse ; he rode in that charge without being able to
draw his sword. I had a brother who lost his leg, and was
taken prisoner, and afterwards died at Semphoropol. I re-
ceived a letter from him stating how very kind the Rus-
sians had been to him, and how well he had been attended
to by the sisters of mercy; his name W. Baynton. I had
a very narrow escape, a ball hitting the right top button
of my jacket which glanced it off, and cut the jacket
down as if it had been done with a sharp knife, and
slightly grazing my throat; my horse was shot in the off
fore leg in the upper part ; however she managed to go
down with me and carry me out.

In coming out of the charge I saw Lord Cardigan
wave his sword to the right, and heard him say, " I am
so very sorry for the Light Brigade, but this has not been
one of my wild tricks." I think every officer and soldier
must acknowledge he did his duty most bravely. After
being rested a little, we were ordered to mount and muster
to see how many there were able to mount. I was told
by Corporal Nagle the muster was twenty-seven out of
a hundred and three, but that seems rather difficult to get
at. Regimental Sergeant Major Gardner ordered me to
mount, not then knowing my mare was wounded I tried
to move her one pace forward, and found she could
not move. I did not know till then that she was

24

wounded in going down. Being kept on the move kept
her warm but when she got cold that accounted for
her not being able to move. I never rode that mare
again, I had another given me the next morning ; that
same horse that I rode down, was many years after-
wards presented to Her Most Gracious Majesty by
Lieutenant-Colonel McLean. Before leaving this ever
memorable day, I must ask T. M. Joy, one or two
questions ; the first is, was he Lord Lucan's trumpeter
that day ? the next, Did his Lordship go down into
the charge ? If his lordship did not, I feel sure he
would not have left his lordship. William Brittan of
the 17th was mortally wounded, and carried out of the
field dying ; William Howarth, of the 13th was killed,
the other three trumpeters escaped. The 4th Light and
nth Hussars formed the second line, the 8th Hussars
the third, the guns were not spiked. I have lately seen
Miss Thomson's picture on Balaklava; the chesnut horse
of the nth looks as if it had just been brought out of Her
Majesty's stables. It must have been a most extraor-
dinary bullet that took the boot off, and left the foot
unhurt. The boy trumpeter could not have been present,
as there were no boy trumpeters in the Light Brigade,
they were all full trumpeters, and therefore could not have
been boys, all young men from the band had to join the
ranks ; this can be proved by the War Office ; and many
officers who were present, of different regiments, have ex-
pressed the same to me as I here state. I am afraid that
clever young artist has been imposed upon in the whole
representation of the picture. On the night of the 26th,
when we were all laid down in our tents, a furious
stampede of horses was heard galloping across the plain,

25

a tremendous cannonading took place, the whole camp
was alarmed. " Turn out ! turn out ! " The enemy are
on us and we turned out as soon as we could. Waited
some time and could not hear any particulars ; were
ordered not to take our accoutrements off. Found out in
the morning a whole Russian picket had broken loose from
their riders, and an old friend of mine, by name Willsden,
of the 4th Light, tells me a horse of theirs, named
Donkey, was the cause of the picket breaking loose, and
leading them into our camp, that animal had been taken
by the Russians. The horses were very acceptable, and
eventually were turned over to the Artillery. Soon after
we marched up to the front to the heights of Sebastopol,
close to Inkerman. The Artillery used to come into our
tents and we used to have a chat together ; they told us
there was a very weak point close by. On the 4th I went
through the French camp with a Corporal of ours, by
name Nagle, who could talk French like a native. The
French seemed to be expecting something; they were all
busy making and drinking coffee, and seemed as happy as
possible. "Bone English," " bone France," passed be-
tween us, and we had a glass or so together in the usual
French style. I speak from experience, they are the jolliest
and merriest comrades in arms on the face of the earth.
Many and many a glass I have had with them on the
French Hill at Balaklava, commanded by General Bosquet.
Early on the morning of the 5th, we were aroused by
hearing firing, the Cavalry turned out, and Lord George
Paget had the command, Lord Cardigan not having
arrived at that time. Lord George took us up under fire,
and several of the 17th were killed; I don't think we lost
a man. Joe Gammage's horse fell down into a hole that

26

had been filled up, he must have thought at first his
horse was shot ; we had a laugh over it. Lord Cardigan
came up and ordered retire. The French Zouaves came
up at last and turned the tide. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge rode my original grey mare that day
after he had lost his own. What a terrible and sad day
it must have been for his Royal Highness to lose most
of his famed officers and fine Guards, they having suffered
so terribly. Next came the great storm of the 14th, all the
tents were blown down, excepting the one I had the good
fortune to be in ; we put our sword scabbards in for tent
pegs, and each man took it in turn to stand to the pole.
We had fourteen horses die that night from starvation and
the weather, and it was dreadful to see them eating each
other's manes and tails off. We were ordered to Bala-
klava, where we stayed the winter, comparatively speak-
ing, very comfortable. We had vidette and other duties
to do, and bring the sick down from the front. At last
Sebastopol was taken ; the 13th went up on duty that
morning, I mean after it was evacuated, to keep the
ground and prevent any of the French and English taking
anything from Sebastopol beyond where they were
placed, much to the annoyance of both French and
Engish ; however, it was not our men's fault, as both
Generals gave the orders. Colonel Doherty rode into
the Redan ; I was with him there, and saw the dreadful
havoc, destruction and loss of life ; officers urging the
men to work away, burying them all together, friends
and foes, such is the horrors of war. Some time after
this the C Troop of Artillery, the 4th Light Dragoons,
6th Carabineers, 12th Lancers and 13th Light Dra-
goons, under Lord George Paget, landed at Eupatoria;

27

General d'Allonville was there with a large force
of French Cavalry and Horse Artillery. We went out
several times, often taking and capturing a great quantity
of cattle. On one particular occasion, at a place about
two days' march from Eupatoria, on the road to Baghtch-
iserai, we saw General d'Allonville, who commanded
the whole force, draw up with his staff on the brow of a
small hill in front of us. Presently Captain Keith, of the
4th Light Dragoons, came with an order for the English
Horse Artillery to advance with the 12th Lancers as a
support. Captain Thomas halted his Troop at the foot
of the hill alluded to, and rode up it himself; on reaching
General d'Allonville he found the General wished him to
come into action against a Battery of Russian guns
waiting for us on the other side of a small stream, about
half-a-mile off. Captain Thomas examined the guns
with his glasses, and saw they were three heavy Russian
eighteen-pounders, while his own were only nine's ; he
then looked over the ground, and fortunately for him saw
a little square peg driven into the ground close to where
he was ; he examined more closely, and found others at
regular distances between himself and the enemy. He
said nothing about it, but instead of bringing his troops
into action on the crest of the hill as he had been told, he.
galloped down as hard as he could till he got within four
hundred yards of the enemy, fired two rounds from all
his guns, limbered up and galloped back over the crest of
the hill. He lost neither man nor horse, while he dis-
mounted one Russian gun and damaged another, besides
killing several men and horses. The Russian guns as
he supposed were already laid for the ranges marked by the
little pegs, consequently they all missed him. On the other

28

hand the 12th Lancers formed up on the crest of the hill
and had one, if not more, shells dropped exactly into
them. Turkish Cavalry were present. I cannot help re-
ferring here in justice to two officers now living; the one
for his honourable sense of right to his brother officer,
the other not being justly used for his bravery and past
services. An order came to the commanding Officers of
regiments to send in the name of an officer, non-
commissioned or private, for the legion of honour.
Captain S. Jenyns and Captain A. Tremayne, to their
credit, wished Captain Percy Smith to be recommended
instead of either of themselves, they having already
received the rank of Brevet Major. The Commanding
Officer thought that Captain Smith had already been
amply rewarded by getting a Troop, and would not send
in the name of the Officer above-mentioned, whereupon
Captain Tremayne allowed his name to be sent in.
The same thing would have happened again in Ireland,
if it had not been for Captain Tremayne. Both Officers
are still alive, also another, Captain Gardner, who can
testify to the truth of what I write. The nights on our
expeditions were cold ; on one particular occasion we
were on the march, on Sunday ; the Rev. Hewlett was
anxious to have church service, but found it almost
impossible, gave it up and rode about with the men,
facing all dangers, and talking to officers and men. On
another occasion the same Rev. gentleman came up to
church parade on the sands of Eupatoria riding a Cossack
horse, he persevered and read part of the service mounted,
but the weather being so strong and rough we could not
hear a word he said, so he asked the Commanding Officer
to dismiss the parade ; that gentleman, I know, I am

29

happy to say, is still alive. Winter setting in, the 13th
embarked on board the Etna, and had a very rough
passage. The same night the 12th Lancers were
regularly washed away, they were encamped so close
to the sea. At Scutari I joined the ranks, and was
made a full Corporal the same night into the D
Troop, commanded by Captain Jervis. We were
burnt out at Scutari, the building being destroyed
in a very short time, we lost all our clothes and
most of our accoutrements, this happened on the 2nd
of February ; afterwards peace was proclaimed. The 4th
and 13th embarked on board the Assistance, a very bad
vessel, but we had fine weather, she broke down near
the Bay of Biscay, run into some fishing smacks on the
coast, of Spain in broad daylight; this was the fault of the
man on the look out ; one of the 13th who had been hav-
ing a pipe below nearly set fire to the ship ; we arrived
safely at Portsmouth, where Colonel Doherty came to
see us, he was well received by all the men as he was
so kind-hearted to them. We were taken across to
Gosport in a small steamer, where Her Most Gracious
Majesty inspected us and very anxiously enquired for
the senior officer who had served with the regiment,
which was Captain Smith, who was left ill on board the
"Assistance." Major Holden came home with us, also
Capt. Jervis. We were ordered to Cork, the 4th Light
to Brighton, we all had furloughs granted to us.
I had a sister living in service at Brighton with Lady
Caroline Turnor, of Stoke Rochford, that lady very
kindly gave me an invitation to go to Brighton for a
week and stay at her house, I accepted her kind offer ;
on arriving there I was treated with the greatest kind-

30

ness ; that lady even shook hands with me, and having a
son about to go to college I had the offer of being his
servant. When I returned from Brighton the Command-
ing Officer had made a sort of lottery of the decorations
given to the regiment by the French : one of the Trum-
peters, by name R. Davis, was lucky enough to draw or
win one, one or two of the other men who had the decora-
tion were not actually even under arms that day, there-
fore could not have been in the charge, someone else
drew for me in my absence, with leave. My friends all
persuaded me to leave the army, which I did, and gave
£20 for my discharge at Cahir, the very place I enlisted
at. I was 11 years and 174 days in the 13th, and 2 years
besides that on band pay ; I only got credit for 8 years,
as boy's service did not count in those days. Through
the kindness of Col. Barnett and Capt. Hayes of the 12th
Royal Lancers, I have been appointed Trumpet Major of
the O.Y.C., and to the officers and men of that regiment
I return my sincere thanks for their kindness to me at
Thame; many of them asked me for my song, so I
publish it with this. To the officers of my old regiment
whom I have had the great pleasure of seeing and
shaking hands with lately, I feel deeply grateful for
their great kindness to me, trusting my little history
will amuse them and that they will find it quite correct
in all particulars. To Your Royal Highness, and Mr.
Collins words cannot express what I feel in your great
condescension to me.

I have the honor to remain,

Your Royal Highness's most humble
and obedient servant,

HARRY POWELL,

Late 13th Light Dragoons, T.M.O.Y.C.

SONG.

When I was an infant, gossip would say,

I'd when older be a soldier ;

Rattles and toys I'd throw them away

Unless it was gun or sabre.

When a youngster up I grew,

Saw one day a grand review,

Colors flying set me dying

To embark in a life so new.

Chorus. — Roll drums merrily march away,
Soldiers glory lives in story,
His laurels are green
When his locks are grey,
Then hurrah for the life of a soldier.

Enlisted, to battle we march along,

Courting danger to fear a stranger,

The cannons beat time to the trumpeter's song,

And made my heart a hero's,

Charge our gallant leader cries,

On like lions then we fly,

Blood and thunder, foes knock under,

Then hussah for victory.

Chorus. — Roll drums merrily, &c.

Who so merry as we in camp,

Battle over live in clover,

Care and their cronies are forced to tramp,

When all are social pleasures.

Then we laugh, we quaff, we sing,

Time goes gaily on the wing.

Smiles of beauty, sweeter duty,

And each private is a king.

Chorus. — Then roll drums merrily, &c.